_edited.jpg)
Standing Up for North East Fife's Farmers
Agriculture is a vital part of life in North East Fife, contributing around 15% of our local economy. From the Howe of Fife, often described as the bread basket of Fife, to the farms of the East Neuk and communities along the Tay, farming supports jobs, businesses and rural communities across the constituency.
This week, I spoke in Parliament during the Liberal Democrat Opposition Day debate on support for British farmers. The debate came against the backdrop of growing concern within the sector, including anger over the recent Sustainable Farming Incentive rollout in England, which saw funding allocated within hours and left many eligible farmers without access to support.
I used the debate to highlight the challenges facing farmers in North East Fife. Rising costs, labour shortages and uncertainty around future support schemes continue to place enormous pressure on farming businesses. Added to this are the ongoing concerns surrounding the Family Farm Tax changes, which have left many families worried about the future of farms that have been built up over generations.
I also pressed Ministers on the future of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. Local growers need confidence that they will be able to access the workforce required to harvest their crops, and that means providing greater certainty beyond 2029.
In recent weeks, I have visited farms across the constituency and met with local producers to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. What consistently stands out is the dedication of the people working in agriculture. Farmers care deeply about the land, the environment and the food they produce, but they need governments in both Westminster and Holyrood to provide the stable policy environment that allows them to plan for the future.
I will continue to make the case for North East Fife's farming community in Parliament and look forward to hearing directly from local farmers at my roundtable meeting on 20 November. Their voices must be at the centre of decisions about the future of agriculture.
